Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified) 2 Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, Thursday, August 24th, 2006


INSIDE YOUR CLimEROE ADVERTISER AND TIMES


I Valley Matters .................................. 8,9 I Village News ............................11,12,13 I Letters .......................................... 15 I Weekendplus........................... 22,23,24 ■ Weekend TV.........................


54,55


I Family Notices..............................26,27 IReadersplus........................................75 I Motors Today................


62-74


■ Sport...............................................76-80 AT A GLANCE... ~


Thomas (11) is a super star - page 4


‘Street’ star pledges support - page 5 Ella scoops top prize - page 6 Sabden show success - page 7


INFORMATION


Duty chemist: Read and Simonstone Pharmacy, 90 Whalley Road, Read: Sunday, noon to 1 p.m. Bank Hol­ iday Monday: Boots the Chemist, 15-19 Castle Street, Clitheroe: noon to 1 p.m. Police: 01200 443344. Fire: In emergency 999 and ask for fire service. Electricity: 0800 1954141. Gas: 0800 111999. Water: 0845 462200. Councils: Ribble Valley Borough Council, Clitheroe 425111. Clitheroe Town Council, 424722. Hospitals: Blackburn Royal Infirmary: 01254 263555. Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn: 01254 263555. Airedale General Hospital, Steeton: 01535 652511. Clitheroe Community Hospital: 427311. Alcohol Information Centre: 01282 416655. Aidsline: 01282 831101 (7 p.m. to 9 p.m.). Domestic Violence Helpline: 01282 422024. Cruse Bereavement Care: Ribble Valley 01200 429346. Environmental Agency: Emergencies - 0800 807060. Drugs: Local confidential advice and information line: 01200 444484. National: 0800 776600. Ribble Valley Talking Newspaper: 01200 428604. Samaritans: 01254 662424. Monthly Volunteer Helpline: 01200 422721. Lancashire Rural Stress Network: 01200 427771. QUEST (specialist smoking cessation service): 01254 358095. Ribble Valley Citizens’ Advice Bureau: 01200 428966.


CONTACT US! News: 01200 422324


Advertising: 01200 422323 Classified: 01282 422331


Family Notices and Photo Orders: 01282 426161, ext. 410 Fax: 01200 443467 editor e-mail: vivien.meath@castlancsnews.co.uk news editor e-mail: duncan.smith@eastlancsnews.co.uk sports editor e-mail: cdward.lec@eastlancsncws.co.uk


WEATHER


DUNSOP BRIDGE ■


CHIPPING


SLAIDBURN ■ GISBURN


■ CHATBURN


CLITHEROE ■ ■ WHALLEY.. .


LANGHO ■ ' ■ READ ■ BURNLEY ■ ACCRINGTON BLACKBURN ■


WEEKEND WEATHER: After a full day of rain on Friday, the sun will break through on Saturday and Sunday with temperatures reaching 18°c.


SUNRISE: 6-05 a.m. SUNSET: 8-15 p.m. LIGHTING UP TIME: 7-45 p.m.


vmw.clitheroetoday.co.uk Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified)


‘These criminals will not beat us’


by Faiza Afzaal


A BUSINESSMAN has been left £200,000 out of pocket after raiders broke into his factory and stole a sub­ stantial amount of metal before demolish­


ing the ceiling. Mr Gary Long, who


owns Unicorn Precision Engineering, Read, has slammed the actions of the thieves and vandals who not only escaped with six tonnes of metal, but smashed computers and crashed a fork-lift truck into a cast iron pillar - causing the roof of the unit to collapse. Mr Long, who has been


running the successful sheet metal business, based at the Friendship Mill in Whalley Road, for the past eight years, was forced to return from his summer holiday in Major­ ca at the end of last week to deal with the devasta­ tion caused by the break-


into the incident, which is believed to have taken place overnight between last Thursday and Friday Det. Con. Adrian


McHugh, of Clitheroe CID, is urging anyone who may have witnessed anything suspicious dur­ ing the time of the theft to immediately come for­ ward. Earlier this week, he


OUR picture shows engineer Mr David Mitchell furious at the damage caused by the raiders. (B220806/6)


Speaking earlier this


week, he said: “I just couldn’t believe it. We have never been burgled before. “The thieves stole


tonnes of stainless steel, lots of tools, smashed sev­ eral computers and then reversed the fork-lift truck, which I believe they were using to load the goods, into the pillar


bringing the ceiling down. “This has caused hun­


dreds of pounds worth of damage. “I believe the business


has not been targeted by some ordinary criminals - this was a planned theft aimed at putting Unicom Precision Engineering out of action.” Police investigations were this week continuing


said: “We would appeal to anyone who saw anything out of the ordinary or any­ body acting suspiciously near the site on Thursday evening or Friday morn­ ing to get in touch. Due to the nature of the offence, we believe the thieves may have made more than one trip to the site.” Mr Long added tha t


although the ceiling of the unit has been destroyed, he is anticipating that the business should be up and running by tomorrow. “We are trying to get


the ceiling repaired as quickly as possible,” he said. “We cannot let these criminals beat us.”


Try your hand with this X-Factor


FORGET the X-Factor, why not showcase your entertaining talents on the local stage where they will be truly appreciated. Next Tuesday, August 29th,


Clitheroe Parish Church Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society will hold an enrolment night for its latest production, the Cole Porter classic “Anything Goes”. It needs performers - especially


men - who can sing on stage, whether in the chorus line or a leading role. But lots more help is needed behind the scenes too, with make-up, wardrobe, props, scenery construc­ tion, stage hands and the countless other jobs that go into making a show


WINNERS a t Clitheroe Bridge Club on Monday evening were: NS Chris Pollard and Doreen Blake, 2nd, Geoff Capstick and Bill Wol- stenholme. EW B. Guha and Use Park, 2nd, J. Pawlicki and John Renton. On Thursday evening winners


were: NS Anne Pollard and Mar­ garet Heyworth, 2nd, Chris Pol­ lard and George Pollard. EW Pat Ward and Roy Ward, 2nd John Renton and Brenda Wilson.


• CLITHEROE Platform Gallery is the venue for tonight’s Keepers of the Castle meeting starting at 6 p.m. Lancashire’s High Sheriff, Peter Robinson, will be in attendance.


a success. With the nights drawing in and autumn on its way, now is the ideal time to take up a new interest and getting involved in amateur dra­ matics is a great way to make new friends and discover talents you never knew you had. The enrolment night takes place at


the St Mary’s Centre, in Church Street, Clitheroe, from 7-30 p.m. and everyone is welcome to go along and find out more about this fun and friendly group. “An^hing Goes” is a great show to


get involved with, packed with Cole Porter’s timeless tunes. As well as the title song, other hit song include “I Get a Kick Out of


You”, “You're the Top” and “Blow, Gabriel, Blow”. The story is set aboard a cruise liner sailing from America to Europe and has a host of colourful characters from stowaways to millionaires, gangsters and even a raunchy evangelist. Next Tuesday’s event is for anyone


interested in getting involved in any way to go along and find out more. Auditions for the performing parts


.are scheduled for September 24th, so if you fancy treading the boards there is plenty of time to prepare. Readers with access to the Internet


can also find out more about the soci­ ety at its website at the following: (www.thopera.co.uk).


Bridge club latest Members travel in and out of space Showing how and why the Artie


MEMBERS of a Clitheroe club took to space at their recent meet­ ing. Clitheroe Probus Club welcomed


Mr Phil Horrocks who, with the aid of excellent models demon­ s trated how movements of the planets, of the earth and of the moon inspired scientists down the ages to ponder on the structure of the solar system. The wandering planet. Mars,


was very difficult to explain until it was realised that the sun was the centre of the system. Even then it took profound the­


oretical insight by Kepler to for­ malise and define the motions of the planets in their orbits.


Circle, the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, the equator and the Antarctic owed their definitions to the juxtaposition of sun and earth, the audience’s interests and imagi­ nations were clearly captured in view of the considerable number of questions which were asked. Member Peter Garner gave the


Valley MP welcomes


Saudi news THE news that Saudi Arabia has confirmed i t is to buy 72 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft from BAE Sys­ tems in a deal worth more than £6billion has been welcomed by MP Nigel Evans. Mr Evans added


th a t i t will secure many thousands of jobs in the Ribble Val­ ley and throughout Lancashire. “BAE Systems is one


of the largest employ­ ers in the Ribble Valley and throughout Lan­ cashire. This is great news for them and many thousands of my constituents. “I t confirms in how


high regard their work is held, especially as these Eurofighter Typhoons will replace the Tornado Jets the Saudi Arabian Govern­ ment also bought from BAE. “Saudi Arabia is the


f irs t non-European country to place an order


for the


Eurofighter Typhoon and I hope this encour­ ages many more coun­ tries to do the same.”


Pendle Club latest results


BRIDGE winners at the Pendle Club were: Mrs Anne Cooper, Mr Cliff Brierley, Miss Pat Harg­ reaves, Mrs Eileen Had- field, Mr Brian Holden. New players welcome


every Monday at 1-30 p.m. Solo whist winners at


the Pendle Club were: Mrs P. Holden, Mrs M. Hold­ ing, R.Knight. New members welcome


every Monday at 7 p.m. Domino winners on Fri­


day were: Mr R. Barker, Mrs H. Wolfenden, Mr J. Leach, Mrs J. Thornber, joint 5th Mrs C. Wareing and Mr R. Knight. New members welcome


every Friday at 7 p.m. Sequence dancing is


held every Tuesday at 7- 30 p.m. and line dancing every Thursday at 1-30 p.m.


Proms cash


vote of thanks. The next meeting is a talk enti­


tled “Some Lancashire Villages”, to be given by Probus Club mem­ ber and chairman. Cliff Astin. This will be on Friday, Septem­ ber 1st, at the normal start time of


10-45 a.m. at the Pendle Club, Lowergate.


THE sum of £2^000 was raised for Clitheroe Mayor’s charity appeal following the Last Night of the Proms at Clitheroe’s Castle band­ stand.


See our supplement starting on page 29


Buying a new car?


A GRATEFUL Ribble Valley father has raised £1,200 for a char­ ity that has helped to bring a smile to his baby son’s face. Landscape gardener Mr Ross


Hibbert (28), of Bashall Eaves, swung into action for a charity golf match to boost funds for the Down’s Syndrome Association. Rain failed to dampen the spir­


its of the keen golfer, who was joined by his brother Thomas (24), of Low Moor, Clitheroe, and friend Tony Lee, of Peel Park Drive, Clitheroe. The tireless fund-raisers began the 72-hole charity chal­ lenge at 5-50 a.m. on Saturday at Stonyhurst Park Golf Course. They were later joined by Mr Hib- bert’s father, George (68), who completed a 30-hole match in aid of the worthy charity. Mr Hibbert’s one-year-old son,


Charlie, was bom with Down Syn­ drome and regularly attends Holly House and Shear Brow Child Development Centres, near Black- bum, where he has been receiving physiotherapy and been able to take part in fun activities. According to Mr Hibbert, who


also has a two-year-old son, Thomas, he has made very good progress. “Charlie enjoys attending the


centre and the professional staff have been excellent both with him and the family,” he commented. “I am delighted to be able to give something back to the charity that has helped to improve my son’s quality of life.” Commenting on the golf chal­


lenge, he said: “I have never played a 72-hole match in my life. Although it was extremely tiring, it was a very rewarding and a memorable experience. “I t was surreal for the first 18-


holes because we were up a t the crack of dawn! Playing the last 18- holes was an extremely tiring expe­


rience. In fact, at one stage we did­ n’t think we were going to finish! We finally finished the tournament


at 8 p.m. “The Down’s Syndrome Associ­


ation has not only offered a great deal of help to Charlie, but it has helped to provide a lot of informa­ tion and support to our family. “This is the first time I have


raised money for charity and feel really pleased to have raised


■ £1,200 for an organisation that is helping Charlie live a full and


rewarding life.” Mr Hibbert thanked his family


and friends who turned but in the wet weather to support the trio. He went on to express gratitude to the


people that donated generously and paid tribute to the “tremen­ dous” efforts of his girlfriend Les­ ley, stepchildren Miles Smith (nine) and eight-year-old Abigail Smith, and Tony’s wife, Kath, who were the caddies for the day. The fund-raising trio are contin­


uing to raise money for the Down’s Syndrome Association and are calling on Ribble Valley people to support them. Anyone wishing to pledge support is asked to call Mr Hibbert on 01200 422571. Our picture shows (from left)


Thomas, Tony, George and Ross with sons Charlie and Thomas during the 72-hole golf match. (A190806/2)


* Ilk \ \ J’'


www.clitheroetoday.co.uk


Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, Thursday, August 24th, 2006 3


Brandishing fake gun leads to a three-year jail sentence


BRANDISHING a “g un” towards two men in Blackburn town centre led to a 42-year-old Clitheroe man being jailed for


three years. Although the handgun was a fake,


witnesses who saw James Ford, pic­ tured, walk into a pub and point it in the face of a customer had no way of knowing it was not the real thing. Ford, of Lowergate, pointed the


fake gun at a man sitting on a bar stool in the busy pub, because he had earlier been assaulted. Hours later, CCTV caught him


pointing the same handgun to the head of a passer-by in the street. Appearing at Preston Crown


Court, Ford pleaded guilty to two charges of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. The court was told th a t the “weapon” was a plastic gun, inca­


pable of firing pellets or blanks. The offences dated back to May


21st this year. In the first. Ford walked into the Jubilee pub in Black­ burn town centre. He was holding a gun and his arm was outstretched, said prosecutor Mr David Macro. “He went over to a man sitting on


a bar stool and pointed the gun in his face. That man was shouting at him and trying to calm him down,” said Mr Macro. The barmaid realised the defen­


dant was the same man who had been in the pub the previous Friday, and “kicking off” about being assaulted a week beforehand. Ford did calm down that Sunday


afternoon. He asked for and was served a dou­


ble whisky. He finished his drink and had a cigarette. The barmaid had believed it was a real gun and she broke down in tears


while making a statement for police, thinking of what might have hap­


Dad brings smile to his son’s face


pened. She had initially thought that a robbery was taking place. Less than five hours later. Ford was


spotted in the area on CCTV. He approached a man and put his face right up to him, before walking away. A short time later he was seen to


remove a black handgun from his jacket pocket and put it to the head of a man passing by. The other person ducked out of the


way and hurried off. Ford gave no explanation for his


conduct to police. He had previous convictions that


had involved a meat cleaver, samurai sword, Stanley knife and an air pis­ tol.


Defence ba r r is te r Mr Philip


Andrews said it was conceded that a lengthy prison sentence was merited and inevitable. The background was that Ford had been seriously assaulted, result­


ing in him spending around a week in


hospital; “With this sense of grievance


which remained in him and having taken a fairly substantial amount of drink, he took this plastic gun,” said Mr Andrews. “It is not like a replica gun and not


capable of firing pellets or blanks. There is no question of it being able to cause physical harm. It became apparent in the pub that the person sitting on the stool was a former asso­ ciate. He then put the gun away.” Counsel said the later incident in the street was denied, but Ford had


pleaded guilty. Judge Andrew Blake told Ford:


“You seem to have a fascination 5with weapons of different kinds and are inclined to show them off. What you have got to understand is that you must not pick up a weapon of any description.”


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